Phoenix – The anticipated pitchers’ duel in the desert turned into a slugfest today at Chase Field.

Rockies ace Aaron Cook got the hook with just one out in the third inning, after throwing only 55 pitches. Cook gave up six runs on seven hits, including two homers.

The first bomb was launched by Felipe Lopez off Cook’s third pitch of the game. The second homer came on a 1-1 pitch to Tony Clark in the third. Clark’s two-run 412-foot homer to right put the Diamondbacks ahead 6-4. It was Cook’s last pitch of the day.

Last season, Cook didn’t allow six runs in a game until June 20. His shortest outing all last season was a three-inning stint on Sept. 3 vs. San Francisco.

The D-Backs’ Brandon Webb isn’t faring any better. Through three innings he’s given up four runs, three of them coming on Brad Hawpe’s base-loaded double in the second. And he just gave up back-to-back homers to Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta as the Rockies tied the game 6-6.

Phoenix — Looking for maximum firepower – as well as another left-handed bat in the lineup against Diamondbacks ace sinkerballer Brandon Webb – Ian Stewart gets the start at second base in today’s season-opener. He replaces usual second baseman Clint Barmes.

“I feel pretty good and pretty comfortable there,” Stewart said this morning from the Rockies’ clubhouse at Chase Field.

Stewart, a natural third baseman, has been getting extensive work at second base during batting practice over the last couple of weeks.

Stewart isn’t overwhelmed by his first opening-day start.

“I’m just going to go out there and relax,” he said. “It’s going to be fun. This is great.”

With Rockies sinkerball pitcher Aaron Cook on the mound, Stewart is likely to see a lot of action.

“It’s really not a lot different than any other time when ‘Cookie’ is out there,” Stewart said. “I knew when I was at third that I was going to get a lot of action.”

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went out of his way this spring to work with all of the second-base candidates, saying he’s familiar enough with Stewart to feel comfortable.

“Obviously I know ‘Barmie’ better, but we have to find a way to get Stew’s bat in the lineup,” Tulowitzki said. “I think we will be fine. I’ll be there to help him with positioning. He’ll be able to lean on me. We’ll be fine.”

At the plate: It only took Todd Helton 10 at-bats to surpass last spring’s home run total. After hitting one in 58 at-bats a year ago, Helton swatted his second this spring, a monstrous 430-foot blast into the grassy knoll in left-center field. It sounded like a gun shot coming off the bat.

“I am ready for the season to start, so I guess I am (ahead of schedule),’’ Helton said.

Omar Quintanilla continues to enjoy a strong spring that screams that he will land a roster spot, tripling in the first inning

On the mound: Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin never buckled in his first spring training start. One bad pitch – a hanging changeup that Evan Frey tripled to the left-field corner, scoring two runs – smeared an otherwise strong sinker-ball-heavy effort.

“I don’t worry about where I will start the season. Wherever they put me is fine,’’ said Chacin, when asked about the possibility of beginning the season in Triple-A.

Huston Street extended his scoreless streak to three innings with two spotless innings. Notably, he struck out two hitters. He had only one K this spring entering the game.

Pitching in a minor-league game against a mix of different level players, Aaron Cook worked six innings, allowing three earned runs on 78 pitches, while focusing on becoming less predictable.

“I threw a lot of breaking balls and off-speed stuff today,” Cook said. “It’s definitely a luxury to be able to work on this stuff. That’s great in a situation like this where if a guy crushes it really doesn’t matter. I’m just trying to get a feel for my pitches. At the end of the day, we’re all better for it.”

In the field: Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez, re-entering the mix for a roster spot, showed off his athleticism with an over-the-shoulder catch to rob Tony Clark in the fourth inning.

Returning from back surgery, Helton showed no problem charging on bunt plays or navigating a rundown in the third inning.
“More than anything it’s how you feel the next day because you have adrenaline out there,’’ Helton said.

Up next: The Rockies host the Royals at Hi Corbett Field. Ubaldo Jimenez, in his first performance since the WBC, starts followed by leading closer candidate Manuel Corpas, Randy Flores, Juan Morillo and Ryan Speier. The Royals will start Kyle Davies.

Jason Hirsh is smart, perceptive. So when the Rockies switched the game plan on March 7, having him pitch after Franklin Morales instead of before him, he knew something was up. He received confirmation today, farmed out to the minor leagues, effectively removing him from the crowded fifth starter derby.

“It’s not a shock. I knew it was going to happen, I just wondered when, ’’ Hirsh told The Denver Post today. “Hopefully, I don’t have to spend too much time down there (in the minors). Physically I feel great and my mechanics are coming around.’’

Hirsh, the centerpiece of the Jason Jennings trade prior to the 2007 season, was optioned back to Triple-A where he spent much of last season recovering from a shoulder injury.
Hirsh played catch this morning, then retreated to the clubhouse, before exiting in street clothes before 9 a.m. The tall right-hander has struggled with this command this spring, and still has not seen his velocity return to the 93-mph range he had when acquired.
Other notables farmed out, included reliever Steven Register and infield prospects Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson, a former first-round choice who is making the transition to second base. The full list per the club:

The following players were all optioned to the minor leagues: Hirsh, Samuel Deduno, Shane Lindsay, Ryan Mattheus and Register, as well as infielders Hector Gomez, Nelson and Young, Jr. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Cedrick Bowers, right-handed pitchers Matt Daley and Brandon Hynick, catcher Michael McKenry and outfielder Matt Miller have all been reassigned to minor league camp.

A confluence of factors led the Rockies to acquiring Jason Marquis, a transaction that will become official tomorrow. He’s a winner, having gone to the playoffs every season of his career. He’s a competitor, posting a 2.51 ERA in his Coors Field cameos. And he’s a hitter, primed to join Mike Hampton, Jason Jennings and Aaron Cook as Rockies’ starters who have commanded respect in the batter’s box.

Marquis, 30, owns a .206 career average — OK, he’s a pitcher, not the everyday left fielder. And last season he hit two home runs with 10 RBIs. The ability to hit can pay dividends in decisions. When a manager trusts a pitcher to handle the bat, he sticks around for an extra inning rather than immediately being pulled for a pinch-hitter at first glance after the fifth inning.

Marquis grew up in New York, and there was some rumblings the Cubs would send him to the Mets. The issue with the Mets is that they are focused on landing a top-of-the-rotation starter, namely Derek Lowe. The two sides remain far apart on dollars, which brings us to Tim Redding.

Redding remains on the Rockies’ radar. And for good reason. He could come in around $3 million, won 10 games for a horrible Nationals’ squad last season and beat the Phillies three times. Redding has commanded the most attention from the Mets and Orioles. If the Lowe sweepstakes drags out, Redding could end up taking an opportunity elsewhere. This is the time of year, with 39 days until spring training and less than half of the players signed, that free agents begin flying off the board.

Look for the Rockies to address bench issues once they have added Marquis. Scott Podsednik and the Rockies have mutual interest. Colorado, however, is offering only a non-guaranteed deal for Podsednik, whose speed could be beneficial even in a reserve role with the departure of Willy Taveras. Colorado added utilityman Luis Gonzalez last week.

Footnotes
The Washington Nationals have signed left-hander Will Ledezma to a $750,000 minor-league deal. … The White Sox agreed with Randy Williams on a $410,000 minor-league deal … As part of Tony Clark’s $800,000 contract with the Diamondbacks, he will receive a $500,000 bonus if traded. It’s a defacto no-trade because Clark wants to finish his career with Arizona.

As momentum for Denver’s expansion candidacy grew in 1991, major league players were asked about the Mile High City. There wasn’t much support, weather and altitude the most common complaints. Read more…

Phoenix – Not that the Rockies have become big or anything, but even photographers have fans. John Leyba, one of our guys at The Denver Post, was laughing as a fan yelled in his direction with the following sign: John Leyba The Best Shooter. The initials were for TBS, the broadcast arm for the series. Read more…

Garrett Atkins starts today’s game sitting on the bench. Call it the Brandon Webb effect. Atkins is hitting just .115 (3-for-23) against the Diamondbacks’ sinkerball specialist. Rookie Ian Stewart will start at third and get his first regular-season look at Webb. Matt Holliday hasn’t had much success against Webb, either, going 7-for-35 (.200). However, manager Clint Hurdle didn’t want to remove his two top sluggers from the lineup.
The two lefties, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe, have hit Webb well. Helton is hitting .326 (15-for-46) with two homers and eight RBIs. Hawpe is hitting .324 (11-for-34) with four homers and 10 RBIs.

The Rockies made three roster moves prior to today’s game against the Diamondbacks. Jeff Baker and Willy Taveras were activated off the 15-day disabled list and first baseman Joe Koshansky was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Taveras, healed from a strained right quadriceps, starts in center field and bats leadoff tonight. The Rockies hope to combine Taveras and Kazuo Matsui’s speed to create a more dynamic offense.
Koshansky will be used primarily as a pinch hitter, though a few spot starts are possible.
“This is as much as a reward any anything for Joe,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “This is for the numbers he put up in Colorado Springs and for his hard work and development.”
The 25-year-old Koshansky, still looking for his major league debut, hit .295 with 21 homers, 30 doubles and 79 RBIs in 136 games for the Sky Sox this season.

By the numbers: Todd Helton hit his 30th double of the season Friday night and has now recorded at least 30 doubles in each of his 10 full seasons in the majors. He is just the ninth player in major league history to accomplish that. Hall of Famer Stan Musial is No. 1 on that list. He had 16 consecutive seasons with at least 30 doubles.

Reliever LaTroy Hawkins is almost back from right elbow troubles, but heâ€™s going to make a pit stop before he rejoins the Rockiesâ€™ bullpen. Hawkins will throw for Triple-A Colorado Springs in Sacramento on Friday and Saturday. Barring any setback, heâ€™ll rejoin the Rockies Monday in Phoenix. Hawkins, who began the season as the Rockiesâ€™ setup man, has been on the disabled list since April 21.

John Mabry needs the work, and the last thing slumping Garrett Atkins needs is to face the Diamondbacksâ€™ Brandon Webb. Thatâ€™s the simple reasoning behind manager Clint Hurdleâ€™s decision to start Mabry at third base tonight.
Atkins is just 3-for-23 (.130) against Webb, Arizonaâ€™s super-sinkerballer, whereas Mabry is 7-for-13 with one homer and four RBIs against him.

Dugout chatter
â€œWeâ€™ve had some conversations, but weâ€™ve had trouble finding anything that will get him going with any consistency. The challenge in front of him right now is putting something down that he can run with. Heâ€™s not the only one in that category right now.â€?
— Hurdle on Atkinsâ€™ slump, one thatâ€™s seen him hit .181 in his last 19 games, dropping his average to .237.

Kaz Matsui has a thing for Superman. The “S” decals are plastered on his car and cellphone. So far this season, he has played like him, a refreshing change from his days in New York as Clark Kent. Manager Clint Hurdle on Saturday praised Matsui’s speed, and remarked how “he’s playing with freedom, with a smile on his face.”Read more…

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.